Animal medical genetics: a perspective on the epidemiology and control of inherited disorders

Abstract

This perspective considers genetic disorders of domestic animal populations, in particular their epidemiology and control. Inherited disorders of animals share the same basic molecular biology as those of human beings, but they differ in their epidemiology due largely to the breed structure of the various species, human control of breeding and a greater influence of the founder effect, particularly due to extensive use of a limited number of sires, and inbreeding. Control of genetic disorders in animals is also more practical through extensive screening for disease, or heterozygous animals within defined breed populations, followed by exclusion of affected or carrier animals from breeding. This is assisted by the fact that, within a breed, many inherited monogenic disorders are associated with a single mutation. However some of the more important disorders may be inherited in a non-Mendelian manner, being influenced by multiple genes as well as environmental factors. These aspects are discussed and contrasted with similar aspects in human medical genetics.

KEY WORDS:

• Genetic disorders
• animals
• breeds
• epidemiology
• genetic screening
• founder effect
• in-breeding

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of colleagues and many other experts in the field of human and animal medical genetics whose research and ideas have helped develop the present perspective.